 News
16th January 2008
Med diet in
pregnancy cuts allergiesPregnant women who eat a Mediterranean
diet may help protect their children from asthma and other allergies, researchers
say. The Crete team studied 468 mothers and their children from pregnancy
to six and a half years after the birth. They found asthma and allergies
were significantly less common in children whose mothers ate lots of vegetables,
fruit, nuts and fish during pregnancy. The Thorax study also found eating
high levels of red meat increased the risk. It made that conclusion in cases where
red meat was being eaten more than three to four times a week. More than
five million people in the UK have asthma, and one in 10 children is affected.
Previous work by the same team, from the University of Crete, found that
children who ate a Mediterranean diet appeared to be protected from asthma and
allergies. The latest study suggests that the protective effect of the
diet may kick in an even earlier stage. The researchers found that by the
time the children were six-and-a-half years old their diet appeared to have little
impact on their risk of asthma and allergy. However, their mother's diet
during pregnancy appeared to be much more important. Consumption of vegetables
more than eight times a week, of fish more than three times a week, and of legumes
more than once a week, seemed to be particularly protective. The researchers
said the Mediterranean diet tended to be well balanced and full of foods which
contained beneficial vitamins and minerals. In particular, the diet was
high in antioxidants, which help to keep tissues - including those in the lungs
- healthy. Fatty acids from fish were known to help cut potentially damaging
inflammation. The Thorax study continues: "Further studies are needed to
better understand the mechanisms of this protective effect and the most relevant
window of exposure." Leanne Male, assistant director of Research at the
charity Asthma UK, said: "This supports our advice to pregnant mothers to eat
a healthy, balanced diet. "It is of particular significance to mothers
in the UK as we have one of the highest rates of childhood asthma worldwide, with
one in 10 children suffering from the condition." Where
to next? | 
